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habit

[ hab-it ]

/ ˈhæb ɪt /

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See synonyms for: habit / habited / habiting / habits on Thesaurus.com

noun

an acquired behavior pattern regularly followed until it has become almost involuntary: the habit of looking both ways before crossing the street.

customary practice or use: Daily bathing is an American habit.

a particular practice, custom, or usage: the habit of shaking hands.

a dominant or regular disposition or tendency; prevailing character or quality: She has a habit of looking at the bright side of things.

Often the habit . addiction, especially to narcotics.

mental character or disposition: a habit of mind.

characteristic bodily or physical condition.

the characteristic form, aspect, mode of growth, etc., of an organism: a twining habit.

the characteristic crystalline form of a mineral.

garb of a particular rank, profession, religious order, etc.: a monk's habit.

the attire worn by a rider of a saddle horse.

verb (used with object)

to clothe; array.

OTHER WORDS FOR habit

2 bent, wont.

10 dress, costume.

12 dress, garb, attire; deck out.

See synonyms for habit on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

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Test how much you really know about regular and irregular plural nouns with this quiz.

Question 1 of 9

Which of the following nouns has an irregular plural form?

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Idioms about habit

old habits die hard. See entry at old habits die hard.

Origin of habit

First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English, from Latin habitus “state, style, practice,” equivalent to habi- (variant stem of habēre “to have”) + -tus verbal noun suffix; replacing Middle English abit, from Old French

synonym study for habit

3. See custom.

Words nearby habit

habiliment, habilitate, habilitation, Habima, Habiru, habit, habitable, habitan, habitancy, habitant, habitat

Other definitions for habit (2 of 2)

habit²

[ hab-it ]

/ ˈhæb ɪt /

verb (used with object)

Archaic. to dwell in.

verb (used without object)

Obsolete. to dwell.

Origin of habit

1325–75; Middle English habiten<Latin habitāre to inhabit; see habitat

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use habit in a sentence

It also delivers valuable brand safety for your ads during the holiday shopping season, and takes advantage of viewers’ natural second screen habits so they can immediately navigate to your site.
5 tips for adding connected TV to your holiday ad strategy|Sponsored Content: SteelHouse|September 14, 2020|Search Engine Land
They’d already restarted their well-oiled machines and were in the process of booting up new routines and habits.
How a vacation—or a pandemic—can help you adopt better habits now|matthewheimer|September 12, 2020|Fortune
In April 2020, almost 1,500 parents in Canada reported their kids’ physical activity, screen time and sleep habits since the new coronavirus pandemic hit.
Healthy screen time is one challenge of distance learning|Kathryn Hulick|September 11, 2020|Science News For Students
You can help your customers focus on the end-users’ search habits in your SEO proposal by describing why it doesn’t make sense to improve visibility for queries that are navigational keywords and trigger site links.
SEO proposals: Particular challenges and how to avoid getting a silent no|SEOmonitor|September 10, 2020|Search Engine Watch

That 2010 study backs up one of Nebel’s preferred study habits.
Top 10 tips on how to study smarter, not longer|Kathiann Kowalski|September 9, 2020|Science News For Students
Hollywood has developed a habit of relying on what worked best in the past, and 300 was hugely successful.
Meet Moses the Swashbuckling Israelite|James Romm|December 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Does wildlife campaigner Prince Charles's hunting habit make him a hypocrite?
Prince Charles Photographed Shooting, Charges of Animal Cruelty and Royal Hypocrisy Reignited|Tom Sykes|December 1, 2014|DAILY BEAST
We still retain the 27 November habit, through sheer gluttony more than anything else.
Confessions of a Turkey Killer|Tom Sykes|November 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Texas governors have a habit of running for president: Just ask Perry or former president George W. Bush.
The Most Interesting Place to Be Tonight|Tim Mak|November 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Those who dream of a post-partisan future should note that paranoia has a habit of erasing traditional political boundaries.
From ISIS to Ebola, What Has Made Naomi Wolf So Paranoid?|Michael Moynihan|October 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
She and her younger sister, Janet, had quarreled a good deal through force of unfortunate habit.
The Awakening and Selected Short Stories|Kate Chopin
Doubtless the commentator habit is fixed in the nature of man; but it was pre-eminently mediaeval.
The Mediaeval Mind (Volume II of II)|Henry Osborn Taylor
This habit and the fact that she cares more for color than for drawing are the usual criticisms of her pictures.
Women in the fine arts, from the Seventh Century B.C. to the Twentieth Century A.D.|Clara Erskine Clement
When d'Aubran entered, the Seneschal was composed and in his wonted habit of ponderous dignity.
St. Martin's Summer|Rafael Sabatini
To punish the habit, a Turk was seized and a pipe transfixed through his nose.
Tobacco; Its History, Varieties, Culture, Manufacture and Commerce|E. R. Billings.

British Dictionary definitions for habit

habit

/ (ˈhæbɪt) /

noun

a tendency or disposition to act in a particular way

established custom, usual practice, etc

psychol a learned behavioural response that has become associated with a particular situation, esp one frequently repeated

mental disposition or attitudea good working habit of mind

a practice or substance to which a person is addicteddrink has become a habit with him
the state of being dependent on something, esp a drug

botany zoology the method of growth, type of existence, behaviour, or general appearance of a plant or animala climbing habit; a burrowing habit

the customary apparel of a particular occupation, rank, etc, now esp the costume of a nun or monk

Also called: riding habit a woman's riding dress

crystallog short for crystal habit

verb (tr)

to clothe

an archaic word for inhabit, habituate

Word Origin for habit

C13: from Latin habitus custom, from habēre to have

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Medical definitions for habit

habit

[ hăb′ĭt ]

A recurrent, often unconscious, pattern of behavior that is acquired through frequent repetition.

Physical constitution.

An addiction, especially to a narcotic drug.

Scientific definitions for habit

habit

[ hăb′ĭt ]

The characteristic shape of a crystal, such as the cubic habit that is characteristic of pyrite.

The characteristic manner of growth of a plant. For example, grape plants and ivy display a vining habit.

Other Idioms and Phrases with habit

habit

see kick a habit.

habit

OTHER WORDS FOR habit

Idioms about habit

Origin of habit

synonym study for habit

Words nearby habit

Other definitions for habit (2 of 2)

Origin of habit

Words related to habit

How to use habit in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for habit

Word Origin for habit

Medical definitions for habit

Scientific definitions for habit

Other Idioms and Phrases with habit